Ten Things of Thankful #71

Okay *deep breaths* it’s REALLY HERE! *tries not to hyperventilate from excitement*

IT’S JESSICA WEEK!!!

Do you remember last week, when right at the very end, I dropped in how VERY excited I was to be part of an Actual, In Fact book (to be)? WELL!  The week is upon us when you all get to read the story of Jessica B. Bell, and how she came to know my dear friend (and Dilettante) Helena Hann-Basqiuiat. In fact, click HERE for part 1, click HERE for part 2, click HERE for part 3, then come back to the rest of this.

The point is, each day another part of this collaborative story will be revealed, culminating in the release of the book (both in Real and e-Book versions) on November 1st, and…well…let’s just say that there are SURPRISES along the way, and that (as ever with Jessica) you will *always* get more than you expect. SO WATCH THIS SPACE!

(I am very thankful for incredible writer-y friends who involve me in their projects)

I happened across a moment of *incredible* touchingness yesterday. I’d gone to the shop to pick up some fruit and veg, and there was a Big Issue (magazine sold by homeless people in the UK to help get them some income in a legit manner) vendor there. I’ve seen him a bunch of times, and he’s very sweet and smiley, and each time I buy a magazine from him, he says (in heavily accented English) “Thank you, thank you – God bless you”,with a lovely,twinkly smile. He’s such a sweet man, so I like to buy from him if he’s there. This time, though, I only had a £10 note. I didn’t want to take all his change (not knowing whether he’d have made enough sales that day to give £7.50 back) and so I offered him a tea or coffee, so that I could break the note in a cafe. He was very sweet and said that he didn’t mind what drink he had, as I was treating him. I broke the tenner, gave him the coffee and bought my magazine, then went to do my shopping.

When I came out again, he popped his coffee down (I guess he was still enjoying it (at least, I hope so!)) and stopped me, asking “Did you have last week’s magazine?” I told him that I didn’t think I had, so he gave me a copy for free. That really touched my heart and made me go all soppy inside. I don’t know his circumstances and I don’t know how much he has in terms of material wealth (some vendors are scheming, conniving bastards who use the magazine as a cover for legitimate income whilst making shady money on the side – I don’t think this chap’s like that, but you can never tell), but the fact that he was generous enough with a portion of his ‘little’ (as compared to my ‘much’), was an amazing and very humbling moment for me. I *really* like that guy 🙂

(Thankful for generosity of spirit)

AAAAAAAAAAAGES ago (on holiday, in summer) I came across a little Lego stormtrooper, which immediately reminded me of my friend Scott, and I bought it for him so that I could send it over in a glitterbomb. He spent SO LONG wondering whether or not to give me his address (he considers glitter to be ‘craft herpes and wasn’t keen on the idea’ that I started posing the little trooper in pink-and-sparkly ways until he gave in. I sent the damn trooper OVER A MONTH AGO, and we had both all but given up hope, when lo and behold IT ARRIVED. It made Scott happy. And because Scott forgot about the glitter, he got bombed, which made ME happy. We all win.

In general, though, I LOVE sending glitterbombs to the people who’ve come to mean something to me, because I can imagine their happiness (if they vlog it or email me about it, then I also get to join in) and to know that I’ve brought them a few moments of joy because of something I’ve sent in the post, well that’s pretty cool really. I have more glitterbombs to make soon, as well. YAY!

(Thankful for the postal service, even when it’s bloody slow!)

Last Sunday I took my darling Goddaughter to the beach. It was perfect. We made fairy stones, and somehow, on the beach found ALL THE DEATH, starting with a giant dead fish, then some bones which she ‘collected’, then a dead FOX, then a dead RABBIT! Seriously – if you’re not following me on Instagram, you’re missing out. The creepiest thing was that she also found a single red rose, which we put atop the fox as a memorial. It was a WEIRD day. But lovely. We sang and chatted and made fairy stones and played on the playpark together and did some good bonding. The only awkward moment was when we started talking about role models and I had to explain that I was meant to be being a good one to her…

(Thankful for fun times, and that I only need to be a work in progress)

This week I’ve had real peace of mind about who I am and how I am and where I’m at and (almost) how I look. I know I’m not by any means perfect or any of the other things I so HOPED I would or could or should be, but this week, it hasn’t gotten to me. This week I’ve been okay about it all. And for anyone who knows what it’s like to live with a constant loud-shouty-bully-voice in their head, you’ll know that this is HUGE.

(Thankful for internal quiet)

My #KickCancersAss posts are doing well, too. I have three to do, one is half done, and I posted my second Actual, In Fact letter last weekend – it should arrive early next week. I hope. If the post doesn’t fail me again. YAY!

(Thankful for support and for being able to DO SOMETHING in this way)

I had another oddly humbling moment yesterday, as it happens. I was mid-boxing, halfway through a gruelling punchbag workout, when I started slipping around. I wasn’t sure why, but I kept my eyes on the bag and kept slogging. Then the round ended and we all moved bags – I stepped to the next one and realised that my shoelace had come undone and that I’d been stepping on it, which was what had been making me slip. I was still togged up to the nines in boxing gloves, but as I was starting to un-do the gloves, the instructor (a lovely, VERY energetic lass, who makes me laugh because she is SO FULL OF MOVEMENT ALLTHETIME) swiftly crouched down and tied my lace for me. Again, something quite small (and probably speed and safety oriented, so that the class could proceed most effectively) but this simple act of care-taking really touched my heart.

(Thankful for people who help)

I can’t remember when it was, but at some point last week I went to the shed to get my bike, and discovered that the back tyre was UTTERLY flat. It was so disappointing, because I love being able to cycle my commute. And everywhere else. And because I was busy RUNNING BRUTAL 10 (did I tell you, I came 230th overall, and 30th out of the women – AND I got a poem out of it – it was THEE MOST FABULOUS MUDDY FUN EVER!) I didn’t have time to change it. So Husby did it for me, and having my bike back this week has been like being given my freedom again. I LOVE my bicycle so, so very much.

(Thankful for exercise, and Husby, who enabled more of it)

I have been SUPER THANKFUL for another week of (mostly) dry weather, and for all the times when the forecast said it *might* rain on my head, and it DIDN’T. I’m also thankful that my job gets me out and about and outdoors into the fresh air once every ten minutes or so, and that I enjoy it (even when circumstances require that I treat them as an opportunity to practice patience).

(Thankful for mild weather)

And Now….*drumroll*

I am HUGELY THANKFUL to Helena, who said that I could do a GIVEAWAY of one of the paperback books (when they come out – November 1st, remember?) of the Jessica story. Not only that, but I will arrange to have it SIGNED by BOTH OF US.

BUT (and yes, for this one there’s a loophole, my lovelies – because this game is about promotion and trying to get word Out There about the book,and to garner interest and publicity) there’s a buy-in, which is that you need to tell me (and I need to be able to trust you) that you either tweeted a linked #Jessica tweet, or shared her picture (and a link) on Facebook for me. If you do this, I’ll put your name into a hat, and draw out the winner next week, and announce them next weekend. Alternatively you can feel absolutely free to get your competitive streak on and do something UTTERLY OUTRAGEOUS to promote the Jessica project, and if I’m suitably impressed, there might be an additional prize up for grabs.

Links need to go to http://helenahannbasquiat.wordpress.com/

So…WHO is going to get the FIRST EVER SIGNED COPY of a book I’m part of? Because that is what this will be 🙂

ReadySteadyGO!

 

 

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